Card feeder

ABSTRACT

A device for feeding and aligning cards for use with data handling systems is provided with a plate which supports a card stack and is moveable to initiate movement of the first card of the stack through a plurality of rotating members and aligning bars which effect feeding and aligning of a card in asynchronous manner.

United States Patent [1 1 Gatti 1 1 CARD FEEDER [75] Inventor: GiancarloGatti, Varese, Italy [73] Assignee: Honeywell Information SystemsItalia, Caluso, Italy [22] Filed: June 14, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 152,926

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 20, 1970 Italy 26312 A/70[52] US. Cl 271/10, 271/34, 27l/D1G. 4 [51] Int. Cl B65h 3/04, B65h 5/0658 Field ofSearch 271/34, 39, 10, 4, 271/52, 53, 59, 60, 62 B, 010.4

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,411,768 11/1968 Gatti..27l/39X Nov. 6, 1973 3,159,396 12/1964 Barber 271/34 3,015,486 1/1962Weidenhammer..... 271/52 X 3,539,179 11/1970 Bergman et al 271/393,580,566 5/1971 Vasse 271/10 Primary Examiner-Even C. Blunk AssistantExaminerBruce H. Stoner, Jr.

Att0rneyFred Jacob et al.

[ I ABSTRACT A device for feeding and aligning cards for use with datahandling systems is provided with a plate which supports a card stackand is moveable to initiate move- .ment of the first card of the stackthrough a plurality of rotating members and aligning bars which effectfeeding and aligning of a card in asynchronous manner.

13 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDNUV s \975 3770.265

SHEET 10F 2 Giancarlo GATT! INVENTOR B ATTORNEY PATENTEnnuv s 1915 SHEET2 BF 2 III III 'lll'Il-l 6:: 1|.

HP: T t7? G/ancar/o GATT! INVENTOR.

ATTORNE CARD FEEDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates toa device for feeding and aligning punched cards in a card reading,punching or selecting apparatus, as used in data handling systems.

The cards, which may already be punched or yet to be punched, areusually stacked on an inclined plane, and pushed against the feedingdevice by a sliding plate driven by a spring. The feeding device has thetask of removing one card at a time from the stack and of transportingit through a predetermined path to an operating station, which may be apunching, a reading or a selecting device, or a combination of the same.

Usually the card is removed from the stack by imparting to it an almostvertical motion, directed perpendicularly to the major side of the card.The removed card must subsequently be conveyed along the following pathin a direction initially perpendicular to the former one. Therefore,before initiating the movement along this path, the card must bealigned, that is, positioned so, that its major sides be parallel to theinitial direction of conveyance along the path. This alignment isobtained, according to priorart, by the use of a'set of roller pairswhich press the. card on a fixed stopping member arranged in a suitableposition, the roller pairs continuing their action until the card ismoved in the direction of the path by a proper mover device.

The continued rubbing action of the rollers may cause considerable wearto the cards, and furthermore, there is no positive guaranty that thecorrect alignment position is reached, because the card is pressedagainst the fixed stopping member only along the lower edge, and itsupper edge is free.

In most known devices, the cards are removed in a steady sequence, byeffect of periodical motions controlled by rotating mechanical members.This is called synchronous feeding. It is convenient, on the contrary,for reasons of realiability of operation and flexibility of use, toremove the cards according to an asynchronous mode of operation, so thatthe interval between the removal of one card and that of the followingone, as long as it is greater than a minimum required value, may bearbitrarily chosen, and does not depend upon any period of operation ofthe mechanical members.

It is thus possible to change the speed of operation of the apparatussimply by changing the duration of the said interval, without acting onthe proper operation times, and without being forced to adjust theproper operating speed of the apparatus to the speed at which the cardsare removed from the stack.

The asynchronous operation of such devices has been obtained until nowby the use of mechanical clutches, which start and stop the motion ofthe feeding device under control of electrical signals. The use ofmechanical switches, however, is oftencause of inconveniences such asmalfunctioning, wear, misadjustment, and lower reliability of operationof the machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These conveniences are obviated by a deviceaccording to the invention, which is particularly simple and efficient,and comprises a masking plate on which the stack of cards, in restcondition, is leaning, and which may be displaced backward under controlof an electromagnet for the distance needed for exposing the first cardof the stack to the action of removing members in continuous motion, andby aligning the card by the rubbing action of a set of rollerscooperating with guiding members which submit the elastically curvedcard to the action of such rollers barely for the time needed to producesaid alignment, which is assured by means of a upper limiting membercooperating with a lower aligning bar. The aligned cards is afterwardmoved along the following path by suitable rolle'rs controlled by anelectromagnet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS trol circuit used with the device ofFIG. 1; and,

I FIG. 4 is a set of timing diagrams showing the different binary valuesfor thesignals in different points of the electronic circuit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The, device is for the most partsymmetrically arranged with respect to a vertical central plane, andFIG. 1 shows a sectional view taken along the central plane of the majorart of the device, showing in perspective the left half of the same. Inthe following de scription, the terms: left or right, front or back willbe referenced to an observer looking in the direction of advancement ofthe stack of cards toward the feeding device.

In the lowermost part of the view of FIG. l,as the different members arenot symmetrically arranged, the device is shown in perspective, withoutsectional views.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an inclinated plate 1supporting a stack of cards. In the FIG. 1, a portion of this plate isremoved to show the underlying mechanism. The stacked cards Sare restingon the plate 1 by their major lower edge, and are pushed against thefeeding device by a plate tensioned by a spring, not shown in thedrawing.

The feeding device comprises a pair of belts (of which only belt 2 isshown), symmetrically located with respect to the section plane. Thebelt 2 is partially wound around three rollers 3, 4 and 5 as furthershown in FIG. 1. The roller 3 is mounted and fastened on a shaft 6,which is rotated counterclockwise at constant speed, by a motor means(not shown). The idle roller 5 is freely rotatable on a fixed shaft 7and the tension roller 4 is mounted on a shaft 8. The shaft 8 is carriedby a tension arm 9, pivoted on a pivot shaft 10 and tensioned by aspring 11 for suitably tightening the belt 2.

Other auxiliary rollers may be provided, in particular between therollers 3 and 5, to contrive the belt 2 to follow the required path,exactly. Thus, in a suitable portion of the path between the idle roller5 and the driving roller 3 the belt 2 is guided alonga substantiallyvertical direction and run in a botton-opened slit cut in a maskingplate 13. The stack of cards S, at rest, is shown to lean against theplate 13, the belt 2 being prevented from contacting the foremost cardof the stack, as the belt is in a slightly recessed position withrespect to the plate 13.

The masking plate 13 is fastened to a yoke 14 (which may be part of themain frame of the machine) by a pair of flexible horizontal blades,symmetrically located, of which only blade 15 is shown, and by flexiblevertical blade 16. The horizontal blades, such as blade 15 shown, arefastened to the masking plate 13 and to the yoke 14 by screws such asscrews 17 and 17! respectively, and the vertical blade 16 is fastened tothe masking blade 13 by a screw not shown, and to a small block 18 by ascrew 20. The block 18 is further shown to be secured to the yoke 14 bya screw 19. The two horizontal blades such as blade 15, and the verticalblade 16 support the masking plate 13 and permit it to accomplish asmall backward oscillation.

At each side of the masking plate 13 there is a rib to which a smalllink 22 is pivoted by means of a pivot member 21. At the opposite end,the link 22 is pivoted, at a pivot point 24, to an arm 23 which is anextension of an oscillating member 25.

This oscillating member 25 is secured to a shaft 26 which is rotatablysupported by yoke 14 in any manner well known in the art, such that theyoke may accomplish a small counterclockwise rotation together with theshaft. An armature 28, consisting of sheets of suitable ferromagneticmaterial, is secured to a step 27 machined out of the oscillating member25, and is-s'ubject to the attractive action of an electromagnet 30,fastened to the yoke 14 and provided wth energizing coils 29.

In the rest condition, the axis of pivot 21, of link 22, of pivot 24 andof the shaft 26 are substantially contained in the same plane: thus theforce applied by the card stack leaning on the masking plate does notproduce any moment tending to rotate the oscillating member 25. Whenelectromagnet 30 is energized, the armature 28 is attracted forward andthe oscillating member 24 rotates counterclockwise by a small angle,overriding the action of springs such asspring 32. This rotation islimited by an adjustable stop screw 33. By effect of this rotation, thepivot 21 is moved downward and, through the associate motion of rod 22and pivot 21, the masking plate 13 rotates counterclockwise so, that itslower portion is moved backward, letting the belt 2 project out of theslit where it was formerly concealed.

The foremost card of the stack is thus submitted to the action of theportion of the belt projecting out of the slit, and is moved downward.During this motion, according to a known arrangement, the card is forcedto pass through a gauged slit, not shown in the drawing, which lets onlyone card at a time pass as the gap of the gauged slit is barely widerthan the thickness of a single card.

As soon as the lower edge of the card has passed this slit and is underthe plane of the plate 1, the card is engaged by two pairs of drivingrollers, secured on the rotating shaft 6, of which only a pairdesignated by reference numeral 35 is shown. On these rollers 35 leans acorresponding pair of pressure rollers 36, carried by an oscillating arm37 pivoted on a spring which is not shown. By the action of the drivingrollers 35 and pressure rollers 36, and of their symmetricalcounterparts at the right side of the device, the card is drivendownward. The position of the card at this moment is shown by thedot-and-dash outline indicated by reference letter S. (FIG. 1).

The whole device described above, comprising the masking plate 13, thepair of belts such as belt 2 and as sociated rollers, and the two pairsof rollers such as the pair of rollers 36, is projecting out of asubstantially rectangular window cut out of the fixed plate 12, which isfastened to the main frame by means of screws as the one indicated bythe reference number 38, and others not shown, these screws permittingadjustment of the vertical position of the plate 12. The horizontalwidth of the plate 12 is at least equal to the length of the card. Onits lower side, the plate 12 is bent to form an upper limiting bar 40whose purpose will be explained later as the description proceeds.

Under the plate 1, a shaft 41 rotatably supported by the main frame, anddriven, by a motor means (not shown), to rotate counterclockwise,carries two rididly fastened pairs of rollers, of which only a pairindicated by reference numeral 42 is shown. A guiding plate 43 and acounter plate 44, resting on an aligning bar 45, define an aligningchannel into which the card S falls by effect of the action of thedriving rollers 35 and pressure rollers 36, as may be seen in FIG. 2,which is a schematical section of the lower part of the feeding devicealong the central plane. The thick dot-and-dash line shows the positionof the card Sas soon as its lower edge has entered the channel,facilitated by the inviting upper bends of the guiding plate 43 andcounter plate 44. Being pushed down into the channel by the action ofrollers 35 and 36, the card is forced to bend longitudinally, and, whenits upper edge is free from the rollers, it rests against the fixedplate 12. By effect of the longitudinal bending and of the elasticity ofthe card, its middle longitudinal portion is driven toward the guidingplate 43, as shown by the solid thick line indicated by S.

The plate 43 has two openings, symmetrically located with respect to thesection plane, only one of them beingshown in the drawing. The pair ofrollers 42 project through this opening and into the channel by aportion of its periphery as shown in FIG. 2. The external peripheralsurface of the rollers is covered with a suitable high frictionmaterial, such as rubber, and acts on the middle portion of the cardwhich is pressed against the rollers by the effect of its longitudinalbending, driving it downward until its lower edge rests on the aligningbar 45. The distance between the upper surface of this aligning bar andthe lower surface of the limiting bar 40 is barely larger than theheight of the card. Therefore, as soon as the upper edge of the card hascleared the lower edge of the limiting bar, 40, that is, as soon as thelower edge of the card is resting on the aligning bar 45, the cardstraightens out and leans against the counter plate 44, so escaping thedriving action of rollers 42, and assumes the position indicated in FIG.2 by S". It is apparent that, due to the symmetrical arrangement of thetwo pairs of rollers, and to the described device, a card which presentsitself in oblique relation to the horizontal, is subject to a prolongedaction of the downward driving rollers only on its higher ing with itsupper edge under the limiting bar 40. The rubbing action of the rollers42 on the card is thus very gentle and gradual, and ceases immediatelyas soon as it is no more needed.

When the card rests in the channel vertically delimited between thelower bar 45 and upper bar 40, and leans on the counterplate 44 it isbound to be perfectly aligned in the required direction, and is nolonger subject to any wearing action, or to any force.

On the middle plane of the machine as shown in FIG. I, there is a firstphotoelectric device, comprising a light source 48, preferably a solidstate photoemitter, on one side of the aligning channel, and aphotodiode 50, on the opposite side of the same channel. Thisphotoelectric device is placed at a suitable height, so that when thelower edge of the card, in its downward motion, interrupts the lightcoming from the photoemitter 48, its upper edge is justleaving the loweredge of the masking plate 13. The interruption of the light causes anelectrical signal to be emitted by the photodiode 50. As will beexplained later in greater detail, this signal interrupts the currentenergizing the electromagnet 30 and therefore releases the armature'28,thus permitting the oscillating plate 25, under the action of springs32, to return to the rest position as indicated in FIG. 1. As aconsequence the masking plate reverts to the forward position, pushingback the stackof cards and removing the foremost card of the stack fromthe action of belt 2. Therefore, no more than one card may be removed ata time, and this is done in-a completely asynchronous manner, that is,the removing operation is not bound to any phase of any operation periodof any one of the continuously oscillating or rotatingmachine members.

When the card is aligned, on the bar 45, the device for further movingthe card along the following ,path may be activated. It comprises aroller 51, mounted and secured to a shaft 46 which is continuouslyrotating in the direction indicated by the arrow, and whichderives itsmotion from the shaft 41 by means of a helical gear 53. A portion of theperiphery of the roller 51 projects into the aligning channel through awindow opened in The device according to the invention is preferablysystem, comprising, for example, a Central Processor which may send outcommand pulses each one of which causes a card to be removed from thestack.

These command pulses must be separated by time intervals not shorterthan a minimum value corresponding .to the'maximum operating speed. Inthe instance where the maximum operating speed is 600 cards per minute,the time interval between the pulses must be at least 100 milliseconds.These intervals, however, may be longer, as the sending out of eachcommand pulse by the central processor is conditioned to the receptionof a consensus signal, sent out by the card reader, which signal may bedelayed if for any reason the removing and the aligning of a card isdelayed. The card reader which is'located along the path followed by thecard after alignment, comprises a reading position, not shown, aboutwhich it is sufficient, for the purposes of this description, to knownthat it can send out a signal for indicating the start andfthe end ofthe reading operation. It may be assumed that the start of readingsignal is a transition from a binary ZERO to a binary ONE and the end ofreading signal is the opposite one.

The circuit of FIG. 3 has fourinput and one output terminal. Inputterminal 70 is connected to the output of theapparatus ge nerating thecommand pulses, for example the Central Processor UC of a data handlingsystem. Input terminal 72 is connected to the output of the photodiodebeing part of the aforesaid first photoelectric device; Input terminal73 is connected to the output of photodiode 61 being part of theaforesaid second photoelectric device.

Input terminal 74 is connected to the output of device SL being part ofthey reading position and which sends out the start of reading". and endof reading" signals.

Output terminal 71 is connected to the Central Processor for sendingtothe same a consensus signal.

the plate 43. A corresponding pressure roller 54 projects into the samechannel from a corresponding window opened in the counter plate 44 andis carried by an arm 55 subject to the action of an electromagnet 57,opposed to the action of a spring 56. I

When the electromagnet 57 is de-energized, spring 56 holds thepressureroller 54 at a suitable distance from roller 51, so that itcannot interfere with'any card entering the channel, nor act on the cardwhich may be contained in the channel. When, on the other hand,electromagnet 57 is energized, its armature overrides the action of thespring 56 and pushes the pressure roller 54 toward the rotating roller51, so that a card resting in the aligning channel ismoved along thefollowing path. A second photoelectric device'comprising a photoemitter60 and a photodiode 61 is located near the bot- .tom of the aligningchannel and near its right extremity. FIG. 3 shows the logic blockdiagram of the electric circuit for controlling the differentoperations, and particularly for controlling the energizing orde-energizing of electromagnets 30 and 57, which operate respectivelythe masking plate .13 and the pressure roller 54.

FIG. 4 shows the timing diagrams reporting the binary values indifferent points of the logical diagram indicated by the circled capitalletters.

The circuit comprises substantially the following circuital elements: 1

a. NOR gates, as the one indicated by reference numeral 78 which has twoinputs leads and an output lead. The output lead is at a binaryONE if,and only if, both input leads are at binary ZERO: if one, or both, theinput leads are at binary ONE, the output lead is at binary ZERO. Ifboth input leads are connected to.- getherto form a single input, theNOR gate operates simply'as an inverter, as the one indicated byreference numeral 77. i r

b. Bistable circuits, called flip-flops, as the one indicated byreference numeral 76.,These circuits may take over either one of twodifferent conditions, a work condition and a rest condition, and have adirect output lead D. In work condition, direct output lead D is atbinary ONE, in rest condition, D is at binary ZERO. There are two staticinput leads, indicated by reference letters S and R, and two dynamicinput leads indicated as S. and R'.,The flip-flop goes into the workcondition (and therefore output D is at binary ONE) when a binary ONElevel is applied to the static input S (Set), or

when a binary ONE to binary ZERO transition is applied to dynamic inputlead S: it reverts in rest condition- (and therefore D output is abinary ZERO) when a binary ONE is applied to the static input lead R(Reset), or when a transition from a binary ONE to a binary ZERO isapplied to the dynamic input lead R'.

c. Monostable circuits as the one indicated by reference numeral 84,having an input lead I and output lead U. When input lead I goes overfrom a binary ZERO to a binary ONE, output lead U goes to ZERO; when theinput lead I reverts to ONE, output U reverts to ONE not immediately,but after a definite time interval depending upon the characteristics ofthe monostable circuit.

d. In addition amplifiers of known types, are used, having an input leadand an output lead, and either providing for adapting the externalsignals to the standard characteristics prescribed for the signalscirculating in the described circuit, such as these indicated byreference numerals 81 and 83; or providing for the power needs fordriving external devices in response to signals coming from the circuit,such as the one indicated by reference numeral 79.

A terminal 70 is connected to input S of a flip-flop 76 whose output Dis connected to an inverter 77 having the output connected to a firstinput lead of a two-input NOR gate 78. The outputlead of the gate 78 isconnected to the input lead of an amplifier 79 which controls theenergizing of parallel'connected electromagnets 30 and 57.

Terminal 72, connected to the output of. the photodiode 50 is connectedto the input of an amplifier 81 whose output is connected to the dynamicinput S. of a flip-flop 82. When the diode 50 is illuminated, the outputof amplifier 81 is at binary ONE, when the diode is obscured, the outputis a binary ZERO. The output D of the flip-flop 82 is connected to asecond input lead of the NOR gate 78.

Terminal 73, connected to the output of photodiode 61, is connected toan input lead of an amplifier 83, whose output controls the input I of aunivibrator 84. The output U of the univibrator 84 is connected to theinput of inverter 85, whose output is connected to input R of theflip-flop 82.

Terminal 74 which receives the signals of start of reading" and end ofreading coming in from the reading position SL, is connected to inputlead of a monostable circuit 87. The binary output signal of the circuit87 is inverted by an inverter 88 and applied to input R of flip-flop 76and to output terminal 71.

The operation of the circuit is described hereafter, with reference todiagrams of FIG. 4 which show the binary values in the various points ofthe circuit marked by the same letters. Diagram E indicates theconditions of operation on release of electromagnets 30 and 57.

In rest conditions flip-flops 76 and 82 are at rest, and their Doutputsare at binary ZERO.

The first input lead B of NOR gate 78 is at binary ONE; its output leadC, is at binary ZERO, and the amplifier 79 does not energize theelectromagnets 30 and 57.

At the start of the operation the Central Processor UC sends out a Ppulse to the input S of flip-flop 76, whose output D goes over to abinary ONE. The lead B goes to ZERO, and as the second input lead (G) ofNOR gate 78 is at ZERO, flip-flop 82 being at rest, the output of NORgate 78 becomes ONE (lead C) and amplifier 79 energizes electromagnets30 and 57. After a short time interval, corresponding to theenergization time the two electromagnets attract at the instant t (seediagram E of FIG. 4).

Electromagnet 30 moves the masking plate 13 backward and the first cardis removed from the stack. Electromagnet 30 pushes the pressure roller54 against the moving roller 51, but this operation has no effect, asthe aligning channel is empty.

The first card goes down, under the action of the rollers 35, and itslower edge at time t obscures the photodiode 50. Therefore the dynamicinput S of flip-flop 82 goes from binary ONE to binary ZERO (diagram F)and its output D goes from binary ZERO to binary ONE (diagram G). Thiscauses the passage to binary ZERO of the output of NOR gate 78, (lead C)and the interruption of the energization of the electromagnets 30 and57, which, after a short release time, go back to the rest condition attime The masking plate reverts in the forward position, pushing back thestack of cards and preventing the removing of the following card. Thepressure roller 54 is removed from the roller 51, making the aligningchannel free to receive the card.

When the card, in its downward motion, obscures the photodiode 61 by thecards lower edge, at time t the input of monostable circuit 84 goes overfrom binary ONE to binary ZERO (diagram H). The output, which is abinary ZERO, remains at the same level for a predeterminated timeinterval 1, until time t,,. The time intervaljt t is substantially equalto the minimum time interval between the removal of two consecutivecards: for example, in the instance of an operating speed of 600 cardsper minute, this interval is 100 ms.

At time 1 the output of flip-flop 84 goes to binary ONE, and thereforethe output of inverter 85 (diagram L) goes from ONE to ZERO.

This zero-going front applied to the dynamic input R of flip-flop 82resets the same in rest condition. The output D goes back to ZERO, andso does the second input G of NOR gate 71. As the first input of thesame is already ZERO, the output goes to ONE, and the amplifier 79energizes the electromagnets, which operate.

. Electromagnet 30 moves back the masking plate 13,

and causes a second card to be removed from the stack. The electromagnet57 pushes the pressure roller 54 against the roller 51, and thereforethe first card is moved along the following path to the readingposition. As the card is moved out of the aligning channel thephotodiode 61 is illuminated and the leads H and L go back to binaryONE. When the card reaches the reading position, the terminal 74 and theinput lead to flipflop 87 go over to a binary ONE (diagram M) and, incorrespondence, the output of the inverter 88, whose input is connectedto the output of flip-flop 87, goes over similarly from ZERO to ONE,without producing effects (diagram N). I

When the reading operation is terminated, the input of monostablecircuit 87 goes over from binary ONE to binary ZERO, and its output goesover from ZERO to ONE after a predetermined time interval 7'. As aconsequence, the output of inverter 88, sends out at time t a zero-goingfront, which, applied to the dynamic input R' of flip-flop '76 resetsthe same in rest position, that is, its output D reverts to ZERO. Thefirst input of NOR gate 78 goes to ONE, its output to ZERO, and theelectromagnets are de-energized. At the same time t,

the same zero-going front applied to terminal 71 gives to the CentralProcessor the consensus for initiating a new operation cycle. TheCentral processor sends a new pulse P for example at time t-,, settingflip-flop 76 in work condition, and the lead B goes to binary ZERO. Butthe new cycle is initiated only at time T' when the second card, whichhas been removed from the stack at time is aligned on the aligningchannel. .From this time on the sequence of operations of the variousdevices proceeds in the manner already indicated. The start of a newcycle is conditioned by a command pulse incoming from the CentralProcessor and setting flipflop 70 (lead B to ZERO) and by the signalindicating that the last removed card is positioned and aligned in thealigning channel, which resets flip-flop 81 (lead G to ZERO).

The intervals of time corresponding to instant t to. t as indicated inFIG. 4 are, with reference to the start of the first cycle, that is, toinstant t t ms; t ms; 45 ms; 82.5 ms; t 100 ms; =l50 ms.

In the instance of an operating speed of 600 cards per minute, the delay1' introduced by monostable circuit 84 is l7.5 ms, and the commandpulses are normally separated by 100 ms intervals. In the instance of alower reading speed, for example 400 or 350 cards per minute, the delayof the monostable circuit is adjusted respectively at 67.5 ms and 89.5ms. No other adjustingoperation is required for changing the operationspeed of the device.

Numerous modifications, variations and equivalents will now occur tothose skilled in the art all of which are intended to fall within thespirit and scope of the present invention. Hence the invention herein islimited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A card feeding device for moving cards along a predetermined pathfrom an initial position to an aligning position and a reading station,comprising a plurality of card removing members in continuous anduniform motion, a masking plate having a corresponding plurality ofslits encompassing suitable portions of said card removing members,means for-pushing a stack of cards against said masking plate controlmeans for imparting to said masking plate in succession afirstdisplacement for subjecting the foremost card of the stack to theaction of said card removing members, and a second displacement inopposite direction for withdrawing the stack of cards from said removingaction, continuously, rotating aligning rollers on one side only of saidaligning position, said pathof the card comprising a portion defined byan upper guiding plate and a counter plate arranged at a mutual angle,said angle causing the card to bend longitudinally and pressingthe cardagainst said aligning rollers the operation of said control means beinguncorrelated'to the motion of said card removing members and .to theoperation'of said aligning rollers.

2. The feeding device of claim 1, wherein said cardremoving memberscomprise at least a continuous belt.

3. The feeding device of'claim 1, wherein said control means fordisplacing said maskingplate comprise at least an electromagnet meansoperating :through passive mechanical links.

4. The feeding device of claim 3, whereby said electromagnet means areresponsive to current pulses generated in dependence of the passage ofthe card through a first photoelectric device comprising a photoemitterand a photoelectric signal generator located on opposite sides of thepath of the card.

5. The feeding device of claim 4, wherein said aligning position isdefined by a lower longitudinal aligning member and an upperlongitudinal limiting member, in cooperation with said counter plate,said counter plate being inclined with respect to the vertical byasubstana first photoelectric device for'signalling the passage of a cardthrough a predetermined point of said predetermined path, a secondphotoelectric device for signalling the resting of -a card in saidaligning position, detecting means for indicating the passage of a cardthrough the reading station and wherein said control means has startinput to receive start commands from a central processor unit, first,second, third inputs responsive to signals provided by said first,second photoelectric device and said detecting means respectively and aconditioning network whereby the starting of the first card removingoperation is depending on a start signal unit, the starting of thesecond card removing operation is depending on an aligning signal at thesecond input, signalling that the first removed card is aligned on saidaligning position, and the starting of the subsequent card removingoperations is conjointly dependent on both start signal and an aligningsignal, said start signal being conditioned by a consensus signal sentto the central processor unit in response to a signal indicating thepassage of the card through said operative position.

8. A card feeding device for moving cards along a predetermined pathfrom an initial position to an aligning position, and a reading station,comprising a plurality of cardremoving members in continuous and uniformmotion, a masking plate having a corresponding plurality of slitsencompassing suitable portions of said card-removing member's, means forpushing a stack of cards against said masking plate, controlmeans forimparting to said masking plate in succession a first displacement forsubjecting the foremost card of the stack to the action of saidcard-removing members, and a second displacement in the oppositedirection for withdrawing the stack of cards from said removing action,the operation of said control means being uncorrelated to the motion ofsaid card-removing members, a first photoelectric device for signallingthe passage of a card through a predetermined point of saidpredetermined path, a second photoelectric device for signalling theresting of a card in said aligningposition, detecting means forindicating'the passage of a card through the reading station and whereinsaid control means has a start input to receive start commands from acentral processor unit, first, second, third inputs responsive tosignals provided by said first, second photoelectric device and saiddetecting means respectively and a conditioning network whereby thestarting of the first card removing operation is depending on a startsignal unit, the starting of the second card removing operation isdepending on an aligning signal at the second input, signalling that thefirst removed card is aligned on said aligning position, and thestarting of the subsequent card removing operations is conjointlydependent on both start signal and an aligning signal, said start signalbeing conditioned by a consensus signal sent to the centralprocessorunitin response to a signal indicating the passage of the card through saidoperative position.

9. The card feeding device of claim 8 wherein said motion impartingmeans comprises card-removing members in the form of a continuous belt.

10. The card feeding device of claim 8 which further includes along thepath of the card apparatus for aligning a card comprising wall structureforming a card receiving channel having an upper guiding plate and acounter plate arranged at a mutual angle, and means adjacent one wall ofsaid channel for moving a card contacted thereby toward an aligningmember forming a wall of said channel, said angle being effective tocause the card on entering the channel to bend and thereby be pressedagainst said card moving means, and said channel being disposed suchthat a card at rest and in contact with said aligning member is out ofcontact with said card moving means.

1 l. The card feeding device of claim 10, wherein said card moving meanscomprises continuously rotating alignment rollers having a portion oftheir periphery extending into said channel.

12. In a card feeding device for moving cards along a predeterminedpath, card aligning apparatus disposed along the path and comprisingwall structure forming a card receiving channel having a lower guidingplate and a counter plate disposed substantially parallel to one anotherand in spaced relation, and an upper guiding plate arranged at a mutualangle with said counter plate and directed toward said counter plate,means adjacent said lower guiding plate and in spaced relation with saidcounter plate for moving a card contacted thereby toward an aligningmember forming a wall of said channel, said angle being of a magnitudeto direct a card against said counter plate, bending the cardlongitudinally and pressing the card against said card moving means, andsaid space between said card moving

1. A card feeding device for moving cards along a predetermined pathfrom an initial position to an aligning position and a reading station,comprising a plurality of card removing members in continuous anduniform motion, a masking plate having a corresponding plurality ofslits encompassing suitable portions of said card removing members,means for pushing a stack of cards against said masking plate controlmeans for imparting to said masking plate in succession a firstdisplacement for subjecting the foremost card of the stack to the actionof said card removing members, and a second displacement in oppositedirection for withdrawing the stack of cards from said removing action,continuously, rotating aligning rollers on one side only of saidaligning position, said path of the card comprising a portion defined byan upper guiding plate and a counter plate arranged at a mutual angle,said angle causing the card to bend longitudinally and pressing the cardagainst said aligning rollers the operation of said control means beinguncorrelated to the motion of said card removing members and to theoperation of said aligning rollers.
 2. The feeding device of claim 1,wherein said card-removing members comprise at least a continuous belt.3. The feeding device of claim 1, wherein said control means fordisplacing said masking plate comprise at least an electromagnet meansoperating through passive mechanical links.
 4. The feeding device ofclaim 3, whereby said electromagnet means are responsive to currentpulses generated in dependence of the passage of the card through afirst photoelectric device comprising a photoemitter and a photoelectricsignal generator located on opposite sides of the path of the card. 5.The feeding device of claim 4, wherein said aligning position is definedby a lower longitudinal aligning member and an upper longitudinallimiting member, in cooperation with said counter plate, said counterplate being inclined with respect to the vertical by a substantiallysmall angle, the inclination being in such a direction as to remove thecard resting on said counter plate from the action of said aligningrollers.
 6. The feeding device of claim 4, whereby the resting of thecard on said aligning position is signalled by means of a secondphotoelectric device comprising at least a photoemitter and aphotoelectric signal generator located on opposite sides of saidaligning position.
 7. The feeding device of claim 1 further comprising:a first photoelectric device for signalling the passage of a cardthrough a predetermined point of said predetermined path, a secondphotoelectric device for signalling the resting of a card in saidaligning position, detecting means for indicating the passage of a cardthrough the reading station and wherein said control means has startinput to receive start commands from a central processor unit, first,second, third inputs responsive to signals provided by said first,second photoelectric device and said detecting means respectively and aconditioning network whereby the starting of the first card removingoperation is depending on a start signal unit, the starting of thesecond card removing operation is depending on an aligning signal at thesecond input, signalling that the first removed card is aligned on saidaligning position, and the starting of the subsequent card removingoperations is conjointly dependent on both start signal and an aligningsignal, said start signal being conditioned by a consensus signal sentto the central processor unit in response to a signal indicating thepassage of the card through said operative position.
 8. A card feedingdevice for moving cards along a predetermined path from an initialposition to an aligning position, and a reading station, comprising aplurality of card-removing members in continuous and uniform motion, amasking plate having a corresponding plurality of slits encompassingsuitable portions of said card-removing members, means for pushing astack of cards against said masking plate, control means for impartingto said masking plate in succession a first displacement for subjectingthe foremost card of the stack to the action of said card-removingmembers, and a second displacement in the opposite direction forwithdrawing the stack of cards from said removing action, the operationof said control means being uncorrelated to the motion of saidcard-removing members, a first photoelectric device for signalling thepassage of a card through a predetermined point of said predeterminedpath, a second photoelectric device for signalling the resting of a cardin said aligning position, detecting means for indicating the passage ofa card through the reading station and wherein said control means has astart input to receive start commands from a central processor unit,first, second, third inputs responsive to signals provided by saidfirst, second photoelectric device and said detecting means respectivelyand a conditioning network whereby the starting of the first cardremoving operation is depending on a start signal unit, the starting ofthe second card removing operation is depending on an aligning signal atthe second input, signalling that the first removed card is aligned onsaid Aligning position, and the starting of the subsequent card removingoperations is conjointly dependent on both start signal and an aligningsignal, said start signal being conditioned by a consensus signal sentto the central processor unit in response to a signal indicating thepassage of the card through said operative position.
 9. The card feedingdevice of claim 8 wherein said motion imparting means comprisescard-removing members in the form of a continuous belt.
 10. The cardfeeding device of claim 8 which further includes along the path of thecard apparatus for aligning a card comprising wall structure forming acard receiving channel having an upper guiding plate and a counter platearranged at a mutual angle, and means adjacent one wall of said channelfor moving a card contacted thereby toward an aligning member forming awall of said channel, said angle being effective to cause the card onentering the channel to bend and thereby be pressed against said cardmoving means, and said channel being disposed such that a card at restand in contact with said aligning member is out of contact with saidcard moving means.
 11. The card feeding device of claim 10, wherein saidcard moving means comprises continuously rotating alignment rollershaving a portion of their periphery extending into said channel.
 12. Ina card feeding device for moving cards along a predetermined path, cardaligning apparatus disposed along the path and comprising wall structureforming a card receiving channel having a lower guiding plate and acounter plate disposed substantially parallel to one another and inspaced relation, and an upper guiding plate arranged at a mutual anglewith said counter plate and directed toward said counter plate, meansadjacent said lower guiding plate and in spaced relation with saidcounter plate for moving a card contacted thereby toward an aligningmember forming a wall of said channel, said angle being of a magnitudeto direct a card against said counter plate, bending the cardlongitudinally and pressing the card against said card moving means, andsaid space between said card moving means and said counter plate beingof a magnitude to provide an unobstructed area of said channel adjacentsaid counter plate whereby a card at rest and in contact with saidaligning means is out of contact with said card moving means.
 13. Thedevice of claim 12, wherein said card moving means comprisescontinuously rotating alignment rollers having a portion of theirperiphery extending into said channel.